In 2008, the South Carolina Autism Society and the LUCAS Network partnered to provide a Thanksgiving dinner to families affected by autism who are going through financial difficulties. Thanks to the community’s donations, over 750 families in need have been served since 2008. Your donations supported 100 families in 2015 alone! The need continues to grow.
For 2016, we will again be collecting financial donations and distributing grocery store gift cards to recipients. Your donations allow this beneficial program to continue!
To make an online donation, ...

The South Carolina Autism Society is conducting a survey to assess The State of Autism in South Carolina. This is our most comprehensive evaluation to-date, and will help us determine areas of need statewide.
This survey is designed for Self-Advocates, Family Members, Caregivers, Professionals, and the Community. Your responses will help us determine where to focus our efforts for new projects in the months to come.
Data will be compiled and may be used as evidence of need when applying for grants or other funding. No information identifying any individual ...

October 8th is the Deadline for citizens in South Carolina to register to vote. The 2016 General Election will be held on Tuesday, November 8th. Below are links with information on how to register to vote and county voter office listing.
To determine eligibility to vote, please review the requirements from the South Carolina Election Commission:
In order to vote, South Carolina law requires one must first register to vote at least 30 days prior to the election. To be eligible to register in South Carolina you MUST:
be a United States citizen -be at least ...

The South Carolina Autism Society is available to provide staff members and/or information for your event. Whether you are looking for a Keynote Speaker for a Conference, a Speaker for a class or meeting, or an exhibitor table, we would love to talk to you!
Please click here to complete our Outreach/Speaker Request Form. We will review your request and be in touch as soon as possible.
Thank you!

South Carolina State House to Recognize Autism Awareness & Acceptance Month
SCAS wants to invite all friends and family to the State House in Columbia on Thursday at 10:30 am. We will meet in the first floor lobby.
Thank you to Senator McElveen and Rep James Smith for being instrumental in passing a resolution that acknowledges April as Autism Awareness and Acceptance month and the Autism community in South Carolina.

Each year generous supporters like you join us for the exciting annual Midlands Gives event -this year it will be May 3 from 12:00:01am until 11:59:59pm. Your generous support makes a meaningful difference to help us ensure that all individuals with autism spectrum disorders meet their maximum potential.
As you know, the South Carolina Autism Society is changing lives every day by/through Case Management, Parent School Partnership, Outreach, Information & Referral, and more.
On May 3, 2016, Midlands Gives Day, your donation will help us receive extra ...

Today the Centers for Disease Control in Atlanta released the latest autism prevalence rates. Researchers reviewed both health and educational data for 8 year olds from 11 states across the country.
Based on their research, the CDC announced the autism prevalence rate remains at 1 in 68.
It is too early to determine why the rate remained the same. The numbers do not mean that the prevalence rate has stabilized, nor that there is no increase in the number of individuals diagnosed. In fact as our population grows, the number of individuals diagnosed also ...

It has come to our attention that the South Carolina Autism Society’s Annual Conference is scheduled on the same date as the Special Olympics Area 7 and Area 9 Spring Games.
Because of this conflict and its effect on registration, we have made the decision to postpone our Conference to this Fall. We believe it is important to ensure that educators and families have the opportunity to support their athletes, and also attend an important conference to educate themselves on how they can better support their students and loved ones.
We have rescheduled our conference ...

Attached please find the public notice for the public comment period on the SC Home and Community-Based Services Statewide Transition Plan – revised version. You are welcome to share this information with colleagues, beneficiaries and their families, and other interested parties.
Click here to view the Public Notice.
Click here to view the Statewide Transition Plan.
SCDHHS will hold a live online webinar to discuss the revised Statewide Transition Plan draft for public input.
Date: Feb. 24, 2016
Time: ...

I am a doctoral student at Louisiana State University and have been working in the field of ASD for a decade trying to improve service access. My colleagues and I are studying factors that affect caregivers’ experiences accessing diagnostic and treatment services for children with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD). We feel this is a particularly salient issue at present given recent changes in many major insurance policies as well as state and national initiatives surrounding ASD service provision.
Accordingly, we’ve developed an online survey for caregivers of ...

Case Managers
South Carolina Autism Society
Positions in: West Columbia, Charleston, Surfside Beach
The case manager is responsible for identifying individual, needs, strengths, and resources; coordinating services to meet those needs; and monitoring the provision of necessary and appropriate services which are supportive, effective and cost efficient. Though the case manager will invariably have other responsibilities and will perform other activities.
Preferred Experience:
SC Department of Disabilities and Special Needs case management experience.
Re...

ON BEHALF OF SUSAN BECK:
On July 7, 2014, the Centers for Medicaid and Medicare Services (CMS) released an informational bulletin pertaining to Medicaid coverage for children with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD). Per the bulletin, coverage for autism related services like Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) would be available under the State Plan instead of the Pervasive Developmental Disorder (PDD) Waiver.
The South Carolina Department of Health and Human Services (SCDHHS), the agency responsible for Medicaid services in South Carolina, is responsible for developing the ...

It’s time to start planning for Strides for Autism 2016! Strides for Autism is the South Carolina Autism Society’s signature fund-raising and awareness walk. Monies raised for South Carolina Autism Society stay in South Carolina and go towards individual and family supports, education, advocacy, and training. According to the South Carolina Secretary of State, the South Carolina Autism Society devoted nearly 90% of its total expenses to program services.
WHEN AND WHERE!
Upstate
Saturday, April 16, 2016
Heritage Park, Simpsonville
Click here for Regist...

Announcing the South Carolina Autism Society’s Annual Conference, featuring Peter Gerhardt, E.D. as Keynote Speaker, Breakout Sessions, Bookstore, and more!
Date: Friday, April 15, 2016
Time: 8:00 am – 4:30 pm
Cost: $75 per person, includes lunch
Location: Medallion Conference Center, 7309 Garners Ferry Road, Columbia, SC 29209
Keynote Speaker — Peter Gerhardt, E.D., is the director of education at the Upper School of the McCarton School and the founding chair of the Scientific Council for the Organization for Autism Research (OAR). He has more than ...

The South Carolina Autism Society is excited to provide these holiday opportunities for families. Please click each event for details and RSVP information.
Upstate Holiday Party: Saturday, December 5th. An annual event presented by the AT&T Pioneers and hosted by Grace Church Pelham. Drop in between 2 and 4 pm for visits with Santa, holiday shop for kids, and snacks.
Midlands Holiday Respite: Saturday, December 5th. Drop off the kids while you finish your holiday shopping, grab a bite to eat, or just relax! Your loved ones will be taken care of ...

The National Center for Health Statistics today released the results of their 2014 Parent Survey on Autism Prevalence. In this survey, parents were asked if a doctor or health professional had ever told them that their child had any form of autism. Affected children were between the ages of 3 and 17
The estimated prevalence of ASD based on 2014 data was 2.24%, or approximately 1 in 45. This is a significant increase from the estimated prevalence of 1.25% based on 2011–2013 data, or approximately 1 in 80. It is difficult to assess if this increase reflects an ...

A new way to support the South Carolina Autism Society, with NO COST TO YOU!
If you are shopping through amazon.com, they will donate 0.5% of your purchase price to the South Carolina Autism Society when you visit their site through our special link!
So as you are doing your online shopping this holiday season (and beyond!), be sure to enter Amazon.com through this link http://smile.amazon.com/ch/23-7350663 so your purchase will count.

HOME AND COMMUNITY-BASED SETTINGS QUALITY REVIEW
Public Notice
The South Carolina Department of Health and Human Services (SCDHHS) gives notice of an open comment period on changes to the Medicaid Home and Community-Based Services (HCBS)/waiver programs. Specifically, the agency seeks input as to whether the residential and day programs, funded by SCDHHS, provide opportunities for people receiving HCBS/waiver services to be part of the community. This agency will use this input to compile a list of programs throughout the state to review.
Click here for more ...

Sharing from DDSN
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As part of continued efforts by the South Carolina Department of Health and Human Services (SCDHHS) to keep stakeholders updated on progress in implementing Autism Spectrum Disorder services in the State Medicaid Plan, a webinar was held on Thursday, September 3, 2015. The slides from this webinar are available at https://drive.google.com/file/d/0BxPUvTczz65wODFaekZGNERMbU0/view?usp=sharing.
Additionally, individuals may follow the link below to access the archived recording of the webinar for information ...